The redeveloped Blair Lodge Residential Care Home has been officially opened in Bangor, Co Down.

Blair Lodge is a privately owned home run by independent health care partnership, Armstrong Care Services, for people with a learning disability with complex needs including Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Sensory Impairment.

Opening the facility, NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: "It's a privilege to be here today to open the newly redeveloped Blair Lodge residential care home. I am fully committed to ensuring that people with learning disabilities are cared for in the community and live as independently as possible. Facilities such as Blair Lodge, which has put the patient at the forefront of the building and service design, will help this happen. This care home is absolutely in keeping with my Department's policies. It provides a comfortable and homely community for residents meeting their needs within a supportive, therapeutic and enabling environment.

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"Despite severe pressure on my budgets, I have been able to secure an additional £12.5million for learning disability services over the three years from 2008/09 to 2010/11. I will continue to make services for learning disability one of my top priorities."

The Minister toured the facility's accommodation where he was introduced to a number of residents and their families.

Concluding the visit, Mr McGimpsey said: "Blair Lodge sets a benchmark for care provision in the learning disability sector and I hope other providers can learn from this example of community care working as we planned."

(NS/BMcC)